Nige
That said there is the small matter of 300 Fuel leaks + the ducting lifting has not been completed +Bob Ainsworth said in Parliament on March 14th 2008 that "The number of Nimrod MR2's planned to be in service with the RAF on 31st March 2008 was 15. The average number of Nimrod Mr2's which were fit for purpose in Feb 2008 was
5.
Bob Ainsworth said in Parliament on May 20th 2008
(The inquest finished 23rd May)
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 May 2008 (pt 0003)
Nimrod MR2
Number in service 15
Average number of aircraft in Forward Available Fleet 10
Average percentage of total fleet in FAF 63
Average number of aircraft Fit for Purpose
6
Average percentage FFP of Forward Available Fleet 65
So only one more Nimrod fit for purpose 2 months later.
They are still scrapping along when it comes to Fit for Purpose aircraft and leaves the UK very short of Maritime Defense/Reconnaissance Aircraft.